Pipe-forming machine



March 9,1926.

W. c. AUSTIN PIPE FORMING MACHINE Filed April 24' 1925 4 sheets-Sheet W-C- Aus-r March 9 1926. 1,576,127

- W. C. AUSTIN a PIPE FRMING MACHINE Filed Aprl 24, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet2 aktozneq March 9 1926.

. w. c. AUsT|N PHE FORMING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1925 4 sheets-snaai 5gmxmrof W C. AUSTIN, WM

March 9,1926. I 1,576,127

W. C. AUSTIN PIPE FORMI NG MACHI NE Filed April 24, 1925 4 sheets-Sheet4 nvcnto/v M FIG-7 W CLAUSTIN,

@Het we Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. AUSTIN, OF ANDERSON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

PIPE-FORMING MACHINE.

Application ined April 24, i925.

.Be it known that l, Tillmann C. AUs'riN, a citizen ot the VnitedStates, residing at Anderson, in the county ot' linderson and State ofSouth Carolina, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements inPipe- Forming Machines, of which the Yfollowing is a specilication.

)ly invention relates to a machine t'or loru1in pipes with bell ends,which may be used as sewer pipes, or tor other purposes, and which aret'ormod ot concrete, or other plastic material.

An important object olf the invention is to provide means tor suitablypacking or condensing the bell end ot' the pipe, without employing twomovable or rotary tormers, whereby a simplified machine is produced.

A further object ot' the'invention is to improve the construction ot therotary former, which produces the body .portion ot the'pipe, torobtaining, lirst a rolling or lineading action upon the plastic materialand subsequently a smoothing action.

)i further object of the invention is to provide means to lock thepallet within the bell end ot the mold, whereby it is removed trom themachine with the mold, upon the completion ot the pipe. Y

A `further object ot the invention is to provide the pallet with groovecutting means` whereby grooves may be formed upon the interior ot thebell end of the pipe, which operation voccurs after the pipe iscompleted, and removed t'rom the machine.

.le further object ot' the invention is to provide a machine ot' thecharacter described, which is ot simplitied construction, strong anddurable.

Other objects and advantages otl the invention will be apparent duringthe course ot the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part ot' this specilication andin which like nun'ierals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

Figure l is a side lele/'ation ot a pipe 'forming machine embodying myinvention, Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3 3 of Figure l, n

Figure il is a horizontal section taken on line. e--l of Figure 7,

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on line serial No. 25,846.

5--5 of Figure T, with the cam levers folded, and looking downwardly,

Figure (3 is a similar view taken on line 5 5 ot Figure T, with the camlevers opened, and looking upwardly,

Figure T is a central vertical sectional view through the mold, andassociated elements, parts broken away, and parts in elevation, and,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section through the lower end ot themold and associated elements.

T he machine embodies a frame work, including base beams 10, such asI-beams, upon which upwardly converging standards 'll are rigidlysecured. These standards are rigidly connected at their tops bytransverse beams l2, and also by longitudinal beams lf3.

Disposed upon the tori'ard end of the beams l() is a floor 14, rigidlyattached thereto, by any suitable means. This lloor supports a table l5.This table is held stationary upon the floor by any suitablel means. Thetable embodies a raised cylindrical portion 1G, having a tlathori'fzont-al top 1T. The table also carries a marginal flange 1S. Thetable 'l5 is provided upon its periphery, and adjacent to its top withan annular groove 19, affording a tlat horizontal tace 20, and aninclined 'face or wall 2].. Beneath the tlat horizontal face 20, thetable has an annular groove 22, for the reception ot spring bolts, to bedescribed.

'lhe numeral 23 designates a mold, provided at its bottom with a bellend 24. This mold is preferably formed in two parts, which aredetachably secured together by any suitable means. 'f For the purpose oiillustration I have shown the mold sections provided with apertured ears25, connected by bolts 2G while any other suitable means may be employedfor this purpose. The mold 23 is vertically arranged in use, and itsbell end is provided at its bottoni with a reinforcing guide flange 27.This guide tiange is adapted to slidably receive the raised cylindricalportion 16 of the table. When the mold s3 is in the raised position,prior to the packing or condensing of the bell end of the pipe, theguide flange 27 fits or slidably engages about the flange of a pallet,to be described. The flange 27 is adapted to rest upon and be supportedby yielding means, embodying a ring Q8, rest- .i end, with `rios ingnponand attached to suitably stili' coinpressible coil springs 29, the lowerends cil. which are-held Within sockets gli), iforined upon thehorizontal flange 18 ot the table. The springs 2S) are adapted tosupport the inold in this elevated position, but the niold inay beshifted longituiflinally or (ilcpresseil, in opposition to thesesprings, as will be described. t is obviousthat other toi-ius otyieldiiig means may be einployed to support the inold to perinit ot itslongitudinal shitting* or packing action.. The inold is provided uponits inner surlface, adfacent to upper 3l., which `are ad aptcd to 'tornizgrooves upon the exterior oi the sinall cud ot the pipe. l

Adapted to be arranged upon the upper end ol the mold 23 is a ring' orholding ineinber 32, liaviiia` a depending annulaitlange 33, receivingthe upper end ot' the niold. rl`he concrete or other plastic materiallied through the 'inn' 32 into the. upper end 'ot the inoldrby anysuitable uieane. ',l`he holdin;l inemberor ringv l is provided at `diainetricallyv opposite points with blocks 34, rigidly secured thereto.and these yblocks are adapted to engage beneath compression earns 35,pivoted between vertical arius or brackets 3(3,rattaclied to ahorizontal transverse beain '37, in turn attached to the vtrentstandards 1T'. The earns B5, ivhiehare ec"r centrically pivoted, areadapted Vto be turned upon there pivots by means oi a bail 8S. ltinipjht be stated at this point, that after the inold 2% is positionedin place upoiitl e table.'

the cains may he Vturned downwardly slightly, whereby the mold securelyheld in the raised position. Further (floivnwardly tur.n ing movementot' the :anis will eil'ect a turther downward inoveinent of the inold.as is obvious. The holding nieii'iber or ring: 32 is provided atdiaii'ietrically disposed points with apertured radially extending' earsreceiving' vcrti al rodsI l0. which are adapted to slide vertically`through stationary guides il and All` carried by the traine.

r langjcd upon the cylindri al raised portion 1G ol the table is atapered lor truste` conical pallet l2, decreasing;A in diameteriipivardly. This pallet provided at its top with an inwardly projectinghorizontal annular` tlaiigje itl. and at its-lwttoin with an outwardlyiinfojectingr annular flange fl-l. rlhe flange all is adapted 'torinsertion ivithinthe `e'ifoove'l 9. to be held therein. The, peripheryof the flange l-l does not iuoicct be* yond .the peripheii'jv ot thecylindrical `raised portion 1G ot' thetable. and ythis flange adapted topass into the bell end il ottlie inold. Vlfliepallet isstationary in ope'ation` upon the inachine. nor does it function to support the inold.`which must. be tree to inove Longitudinally `with relation ,the feto.

The pallet is lprovided upon its periphery, see more particularlyFigures 4:15?

and G, with eircuniterentially extending horizontal pairs of slotstraktor receiving` curved groove cuttersA-(E, *which arepreijenbly the.levers 5() aresivung outwardly, as shown in Tifigure 6, they shiitt thegroove cutters -l-.o oi'itiardly, and the cani heads all) contact withthe interior ot the pallet. thus limiting' the further inovenient ot thelevers in the saine direction. llfhen swung' to the outer positions,these levers may be eiiiplo \,'ed to turn the pallet whereby thevp'roovecutter.; will produce the `grooves upon the interior ot the bell end ofthe pipe. lt should be stated that he ijialletreinaiiis stationary duiingits presence upon the machine, but when the pipe has been completed.'upon the inacliine, the mold 2 removed troni the niachineand placed upona suitable support, at' `which tiine the pallet is turned by means oltthe levers toproduce the grooves as de scribed.

rlfhe bell end 24: of the niold carries spring bolts 52, attachedthereto at 5?, and these spring bolts have heads 53', projectingl radially vinwardly through ipenings in the bell end and intothe annulargroove Q9 in the elevated portion of the table. The inner ends ot theseheads 53 are beveled. as shown at 1t is therefore seen that when theniold 4is depressed to the lowerinost position. that the heads 59)".Will ride over the flange Lla'- of the palleuand then spring inv'ardlyand engage Abeneath it, thereby holding' or locking` the pallet in, thebell end-,ot'lhe niold, so that it cannot niove downwardly. out ot thesaine. 'lhese bolts niay be equipped with handles 5i'. by nieans ot'which they inay be inoved outwardly. to .release the pallet, aitertheinold is removed troni the machineT and it is desired to i'eniovetheV pallet trein the saine.

The n'iachine `further einboilies a rotary iiorii'ier including1 acyliudrial snuiotliing druni 59. which isrigidly mounted up on a vertieadrive shart G0. Thie drive shaft is slidably inoiinted Within a bearing?61. rigidly attached to the bcain and ivithin a bearing (l2. rigidly ataclied to the beain lil. The drum 59 has its head il?) provided vvitlipivot elements or bolts (il. pass ingthrough openings therein. andthrouejh openings in a cross head g .alfl'o preferably rigidly mountedupon the .driveshatt .60.

vDisposed between the bead 63 and cross bead lill are rotary rollers G6,pivoted upon the elements Get. These rollers have their peripheriespreferably substantially `flush with the periphery oit the smoothingdrum 5E). 7While the former bodily rotating the rollers (SG rotate upontheir axes. and exert a rolling or kneading action upon the concrete orother plastic material. As the smoothing drum follows these rollers, itwill exert a smoothing action upon the concrete previously treated b vthe rollers. The 'Former is preferably provided with a lfiller (36.arranged between the parts (S3 and (S5, and attached thereto.

The drive shaft (it) is rotated by means of a pulley 6T, mounted uponthe upper end ot the drive shaft, and splined thereon. so that it willrotate the shaft, but will permit ot the longitudinal movement oit theshaft. The pulley is held against vertical displacement by the bearingsG2 and (32, as shown. rlhe pulley is driven by a belt (ST, engaging apulley (3S, carried by a transverse sha'tt (39, journaled in bearingsTO, which are attached to the upper beams 13. This belt passesdownwardly and engages a pulley 7l, rigidly mounted upon a sha'tt T2,journaled in a bearing 73. The sha't't 'T2 is driven by a motor 74 orother source ot' power.

The drive shaft 60 and the rotary former carried thereby will be loweredby gravity, and the same may be raised by a cross head T5, having a hub76, slidably receiving the shatt 50. A collar TT is clamped to the shaft60 by a bolt 7S or the like, and is disposed above the hub 7F, to engagetherewith. The cross head T5 has connection with cables 79, passed aboutgrooved pulleys S0, secured to the upper portion of the trame and aboutgrooved pulleys 8l, secured to the beams 153. These cables are attachedto and wound upon drums S2, which are rigidly mounted upon thetransverse sha'tt S8, liournaled in stationary bearings 84:. One drum S2is equipped with a beveled gear 85, rigidly attached thereto, and thisbeveled gear engages a beveled gear S6, carried by the shat't 8T.journaled in a bearing SS. rl`hc shaft ST is disposed in end to endrelation to the shatt 72. and is adapted to be connected therewith b v.means ot a il'riction clutch S9. which may be thrown out ot ac-v tionby a suitable lever 90. It is preferred to drive the winding drums bypower but they may be manually operated. it desired.

The cross head is adapted to engage with stops 91, which may be clampedupon the vertical rods 40, at selected elevations. When the cross headengages beneath the stops 91, the rods l0 will carry the holdjing ring32 upwardly, causingv the, same to disengage the mold. rhe purpose otproviding the friction clutch S9 is to prevent breakage ot parts 0f ythemachine, should the rods -lO be shifted to the uppermost position, whilethe shaft Si' is still being driven.

The operation ot' the machine is as follows:

The mold Q3 is placed in position with its bell end resting upon the`vielding means, embodying the ring` QS and 'springs 29, and such bellend receives the l'lange -l--Lt ot the pallet and the upper end of theelevated cylindrical portion 1K3 of the table. The mold may be retainedin this elevated position by swinging the cams 35 downwardly slightly.The rotary former 5S is now in the lowermost position and the smoothingdrum embodied therein is disposed within the pallet'. This former may berotating. The concrete is now poured into the upper end ol the mold 2?.through the holding ring` 32 and will oit course pass into the bell endQ4: oit the mold. lVhen sullicient. concrete has been fed into the moldto lill the bell end of the mold and term the bell end ot the pipe. themold 23 is depressed, which is accon'iplish'ed by swinging the bail 88downwardly, to turn the cams 35 downwardly. This bail may be manuallymoved. or antomatically 'shi'ltcd by a movable part ot the machine. Themold is therefore given a con'ipressing or packing operation ormovement. This movement may consist of a continuous dowi'iward movement,or a number ot reciprocatory movements. The mold 23 is finally moveddownwardly to the lowermost position, which will occur when the heads 53ot the bolts engage beneath the flange eli ot the pallet. In this mannerthe concrete between the bell end oit the mold and the pallet will becondensed or compressed. Further concrete is now poured into the mold,andthe former 5S is continuously rotated, while it is graduallyelevated, for forming the body oit' t-hc pip-e. While the tormer isbodily rotating, the rollers 66 turn treely upon their axes, and theyprolduce a rolling or kneading action upon the concrete, which followedby the smoothing action o'lE the rot-ating smoothing drum 59. lVhen t-hepipe is completed, the bail i8 is 'shi'lted upwardly so that its camsrelease the holding ring 32. and subsequently lo this. the continuousrise oit the ross head To. brings the same into contact with the stops9i, whereby the rods ett) are elevated in turn elevating the holdingring and et'ecting a disengagement between it and the top ot the mold.The pallet 4t2 being locked within the bell end ot the .mold 2l-. isremoved trom the machine with the mold, so that the mold and pallet maybe positioned upon the table o't the machine to form another pipe. Thisremoved mold with the finished pipe is suitably supported, and thelevers 50 swung outwardly, Figure 6, and may be employed to rotate thepallet within the bell end 0f the pipe, causing the expanded `groovecutters liti to form the `srrooves upon the inner surfaces ot the bellend ot the pipe. titer this, the levers 50 re swung inu'ardly and thegroove cutters automatically retract so that the pallet may be moved-from or vvithin thebell end of the pipe.V rlhe mold 223 is o'l" course'separated into halves and` removed from the pipe, which is allowed toset and harden.

lt is to be understood that the form ot my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to bo talien as a preferred example ot the saaie, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement ot parts may beresorted to Without departing' :trom the spirit ot' my invent-ion orscope ot the 'subjoined claims.

Having' thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a pipe l'nminp,"` machine, a mold having a bell end, a pallet heldstationary in the bell end, means for effecting a packingyoperation otthe mold with relation to the pallet, andv a l'oriner operating,l withinthe mold to complete the body ot the pipe.

2. ln a pipe forming,` machine, a mold having' hell end, a pallet heldstationary in the bell end, means for effecting' a lengt tudinalmovement olf the mold with respect to the pallet, and a former foroperation in the `mold to complete the body oi the pipe.

3. ln a pipe forming machine, a mold having); a bell end, a palletarranged near the bell end, means tov move the mold longitudinally to#ard the pallet, and a former tor operation in the mold to complete thebody of the pipe.

4. In al pipe forming' machine, a mold having a bell end, a palletWithin the bell end, means for eliecting a longitudinal moif'einent oftho mold, a rotary 'former for operation Within the mold, and means tomove the itormer longitudinally of the mold.

In a pipe forming;- machine, a. mold having' a bell end, a. relativelystationary pallet adapted for receiving the bell end about the same,yielding- .means for supportingthe mold, means for moving' the moldlongitudinally in opposition to the yielding n'reans, a rotary formerlfor operation Within the mold, and means to move the rotary vlnmeran'ay from the pallet.

6. ln a pipe forming machine, a support, a pallet held relativelystationary by the support, an upstanding,- mold mounted upon the supportand arranged above the pallet and having a bell end, means to depressthe mold,

a rotary former for operation Within the mold, and means to move therotary "former upwardly away from the pallet,

ln a pipe 'forming maelnne,.a support,

a pallet upon the support, an npstanda'ng` mold having a bell end,supporting means between the mold and support and adapted to permit ofthe downward movement of the engaging `the upper end off the mold, meansto engage the holding,` rinv and to depress the same and hold the samedepressed, a rotary former to operate within the mold, and meansautomatically operated upon the upward movement oli' the tor-mer toelevate the holdingring.

8. ln a pipe. forming machine, a support, yieldingmeans-arranged nearthesupport, a mold having a bell end supported by the lyielding`.ineans, means tor depressing' the mold, a pallet carried by the supportto cooperate with said bell end, and a rotary former for operationWithin the mold to producethe body portion oiC the pipe.

9. In a pipe` forming machine, a longitudinally n'iovable mold having abell end, a pallet adapted to enter said bell end, means ior holding;`the pallet relatively stationary, means :tor supporting the mold inplace so that it may more longitudinally toward the relativelystationary pallet, and a former ,peratinfr within the mold torproducing,` thebody portion ot the pipe.

10. ln a pipe l'orniing machine, an elevated table portion, a palletmounted upon the elevated table portion, a mold haviiml a bell endadapted to be moved dowmvardly about the ele fated table portion, meansfor eftecting` the longitudinal movement ot the mold, means to lock thepallet to the mold, and a former operating Within the mold to produce.the body portion el; the pipe.

1l. In a pipe toi-ming machine, a table, a pallet mounted upon thetable, said pallet and table liaviingr interlitting'` parts, said pallethaving a radially extendingl flange, a mold having a bell end lwhich isadapted to receive the flange ot the pallet` means tor srupporting` themold and to eli'eet its longitudinal movement, catch means carried bythe mold to engage beneath the itlangge ot the pallet when said mold isshifted longritudinally in one direction sulliciently, and a rotaryformer operating;v Within the mold to produce the body portion of thepipo.

l2. ln a pipe :Forming machine, an elevated table portion provided witha circunn -terential groove, an annular palletprovided near its lowerend vvi'th a radial llaure to be seated Within said `groove` a moldhavimgy a bell end to receive the palletand elevated table portion,spring catches carried by the mold and anapted to be automatically en-,Qaged beneath the flange ot the pallet, means tor supporting'tlien'iold and. of; Vingits doivnnf'ard movement, and a rotary 'formeroperating Within the mold to produce the body portion ot the pipe. saidformer having a part thereof adapted to telescope ivith the annularpallet.

i3. In a pipe forming; machine, a pallet mold, a holding ring heldstationary in use, a longitudinal f' movable mold having a bell endrecel 'ing all parts ol the pallet Within its bore, the 'bell llt? all

end of the mold co-acting with the stationary pallet to condense thebell end ot' the pipe being tormed upon the longitudinal movement otsaid mold. and a rotary 'former within the mold lor producing the bodyportion ot' the pipe, said rotary former having a part to telescope withthe pallet.

1l. ln a pipe forming machine, a mold having a bell end, means forholding the mold in position, a member within the bell end 't'oreo-action therewith, and a rotary former to operate within the mold topro duce the body portion of the pipe, said rotary former embodying atrailing smoothing drum and rollers disposed in advance ot'd the drum,said rollers rotating bodily with the drum and also turning on theiraxes with relation to the drum.

l5. A rotary former for a pipe making machine, comprising a rotatablesmoothing drum, and rollers arranged in advance ot the drum andconnected therewith, said rollers rotating bodily with the drum and alsoturning upon their axes with respect to the drum.

1G. A rotary former tor a pipe making machine, comprising a rotatablesmoothing drum, rollers connected with the leading end oit the drum andadapted to bodily rotate therewith and turn with relation thereto, saidrollers having their peripheries substantially flush with the peripheryot the smoothing drum.

17. A rotary former for a pipe making machine, comprising a former head,rollers connected with the former head to bodily rotate therewith andturn upon their axes with relation thereto, and a smoothing drumconnected with the former head to rotate bodily therewith.

1S. ln a pipe forming machine, a mold having a bell end, a pallet to bereceived within said bell end, groove forming means carried by thepallet to produce grooves upon the interior oit' the bell end ot thepipe, approximately oppositely arranged handles to project the groove'forming means and also serving to remove the pallet, and a formeroperating within the mold to produce the body portion of the pipe.

19. In a pipe forming machine, a mold having a bell end, a pallet heldwithin such bell end, groove forming means carried by the pallet,l'oldable means to operate the groove forming means, and a rotary formerto operate within the mold, said rotary tormcr including a portiontelescoping within said pallet, said oldable means permitting suchtelescoping action.

E20. ln a pipe forming machine, a mold having a bell end, a membersupported within the bell end and havingl a groove or grooves, anoutwardly movable groove cutting element or elements carried by themember and operating within the groove or grooves, means to shift thegroove cutting element or elements outwardly, and a rotary torineroperating within the mold, said rotary former embodying a smoothing drumand rollers connected therewith, said rollers rotating bodily with thedrinn and turning upon their axes with relation thereto.

21. ln a pipe torn'iing machine, a mol-l having a bell end, a pallet toenter the bell end, nonrotatable means carrying and snpporting thepallet, means for etlecting a relative longitudinal movement between themold and the pallet for condensing the material in the bell end, and a'toi-incr operating within the mold to complete the body ot' the pipe.

22. ln a pipe forming machine, a mold having a bell end, a nonrotatingpallet within the bell end, means tor ellecting a relative longitudinalmovement between the mold and the pallet tor condensing the inaterial inthe bell end, and a :tormer i'or operation in the mold to complete thebody o'tl the pipe.

9.3. In a pipe forming machine, a mold having a bell end, a nonrotatingpallet within the bell end, means 'for effecting a relative longitudinalmovement between the mold and pallet, means tor locking the pallet. tothe mold upon such relatively longitudinal movement, and a former toroperation in the mold to complete the body of the pipe.

In testimony whereot' I al'lix my signature.

lVILLIAliI C. AUSTIN.

il S

